Camera.



G. W. CURTISS.

CAMERA.

APPLIUAMON FILED Nov.29,'1'9o7.

Patented June 8, i909:

E SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. W. CURTISS.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

Pai-tamed June 8, 190g.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. W. CURTISS.

CAMERA.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

Patented June 8, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,f/ENTOR. @mali y A TTU/ENE Y.

G. W. CURTISS.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1907. 924514?. Patented June 8, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 8, 1909'. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5:

G. W. CURTISS. CAMERA. APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 29, 1907.

llllllln'llnl lill.

GEORGE W. CURTISS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

GAME RA Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June s, 1909.v

Application leid November 29, 1907. Serial No. 404,399.

`clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art te which it appertains to make and use the same, referhnce being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference :marked thereon,

.which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to cameras, and more particularly to a camerafor photographing moving objects, in which the film is formed in a continuousweb, and adapted for travel between a pair of reels, and in proximity to a moving shutter, so that snccessive impressions may be received upon successive portions oft-he film.

The principal object Iof my invention is to .provide means for intermittently moving the iilm a certain predetermined distance between exposures, to insure a .regular sequence of the impressioiis on the film, and to provide improved tihn handling parts. y

i further object is to provide the other improved detailsof structure which will presently be fully described and j )ointed out in the. claims, reference being had to the accompanying `drawings forming part of thisI specification, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which g- Figure I is a view 'in side elevation of a camera constructed according to my invention, the frame side being removed to illustrate the working parts. Fig. Il is a view of same in front elevation, the frame front and a portion of the shutter plate being removed. Fig. III is an enlarged top plan view of the film controlling parts and shutter plate. F ig. IV is an enlarged view in side elevation, of the film and shutter actuating mei'fhanism. Fig. V is an enlarged view, in side ele lation, of the intermittent film feeding mechanism. Fig. Vl'. is an enlarged detail view of the tensioning frame for steadying the film when behind the shutter opening. Fig. Vil is an enlarged detail vir-.i of one of the. film forwarding drums and friction rollers. on the line VII-VIL Fig. Il. Fig. VIII is a top plan View of the intermittent film feeding mechanism.

.'Fig. IX is a detail view of the gearing through which the lower film drum is operated, on the line IX-IX, Fig. II. Fig. X is a detail'"view of the friction clutch through which the lower ihn reel is operated.

Referring more in detail to the parts 1 designates a. casing, of suitable sizeand construction, within which the camera parts are located. In the front of, and projecting through casing 1 is a lens case 2, within which a suitable lens (not shown) is located.

vWithin casing 1, and supported on the bottom thereof, is a frame 3, comprising the base portion 4, and the upwardly projecting side plates l5-5, and the front and back plates G-(S g the frontplate 6 havin-g a laterallg7 projecting portion GA, upon the rear of which the mechanism for imparting an intermittent motion to the film is mounted, and said portion being provided with an opening l5 in line with the camera lens, and through which an impression is made on the tilm. Y

[Journaled in hearings/ in the back of frame 3 and in the back of casing 1.l and projectin g through the latter, is a shaft 7, which is provided on its outer end n ith a crank S. ltigidly mounted on shaft 7, adjacent to frame 3, is agear wheel 9, which meshes with a small `gear wheel '10, rigidly mounted on a shaft 1.1, which is revolubly mounted in bearings in brackets 12 on frame 3. The forward end of shaft 11. project-s beyond frame f5 and carries a shutter plate 13 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured thereto; said plate being provided with avshutter opening 14C, the ends of which are cut at the angle shown in order that an even exposure of the film may be secured.

Rigidly mounted on shaft 11 is a beveled ,gear wheell 15, and meshing with wheel 15 is a pinion 16, which is rigidly mounted on the end of a shaft. 17 which is journaled in and projects through the side plates of frame 3. On shaft 17, at the end opposite pinion 1G, is rigidly mounted the pitman wheel 18, having a radial slot `19 in which the pitman bolt 20 secured, in a manner and for a purpose nescntly set forth. Y l

Rigidly mounted on shaft 17 is a gear wheel 21;, which meshes with a wheel E22 rigidly mountcd on a shaft-Q3, also j ournaled in and projecting from the sides of frame 3. Itigidly, mounted on shaft 23 is a sprocket wheel 24, and traveling over wheel 24 and lOO Y/in the film e Wheel, is a. drum E23, hav ig double rolv ot' l l vice a peripheral studs 29, adapted to nt Within t side perioiatioiis of a tihn web.

lioosely mounted on a stub axle 30 adjacent to drum QS is a yoke 3l. on the shaft o), connecting the arnis of Which, is i'evolubly l mounted a bearing roller 33 adapted to bear against and retain the film web in engagement with drum Q8. On a dog 34: on yoke 3l Q Shft 60u a spring inember adapted inor inipingement against axle 30, for the purpose of piel venting a free movement of the yoke thereon. i

36 designates a shaft which is journaled with yoke arms which straddle a shaft 63 in, andprojects at one end beyond frame o,

and has rigidly secured thereto a spur Wheel 37, which meshes with the Wheel 22 on shaft Q3. Rigidly mounted on the projecting end ot' shaft 36 is a drum 28 ha 'ing studs Q9 adapted to enter web, as described in connection With drum Q8; thesev parts as Well as the -roller yoke 3l and its parts. being duplicates of those previously described in the relation mentioned.

0n the laterally projecting` portion 6A, at eachside of and parallel with the sides of the opening 6B, are the web guides 38, and itting between said guides, and adapted to press against said web is a friction block 39. Block 3Q'has a back plate Ll0 which projects beyond its sides and has perforations in such projecting' portions through Which the bolts ll extend to their seats in the traine pieces (3A, Surrounding each of bolts ll is a coilspring 42 adapted to bear against plate l() and against a nut t3 on bolt stl, for the purpose or yieldingly. pressing block 39 against the web; the tension or" said springs being regulated by turning nuts 43 on their threads in the usual manner.

On the side 5 of frame 3, below the friction block, is the mechanism for imparting' an intermittent feed to the film web; this 1 mechanism comprising a pair of horizontal rails llt-Jill', suitably spread to provide a iath therebetween for the slidine bar film web) upon the forward end ot which is mounted a stub axle t6 upon which is mounted a roller 47.` @n each of rails t4-44 is a stub shaft 48-46, and revolubly mounted on said shafts are the rollers r9-49', preferably of the saine size and construction as roller 47.

Pivotally mounted on sliding bar 45' is the pitman link 50 which projects rearwardly and is pivoted at its end to the forward end of the link '51, the rear end of which latter is pivoted to the pitman Wheel 18 by bolt 20. The pivot pin 52 joining the pitinan links, projects outwardly through an arcuate slot 53 in aplee 54 rigidly mounted on frame 3, and serves to limit the extent of the the perforations triction plate 6e, and bearing against the l pitinan stroke, as will presently be more fully disclosed,

`Within casino' l, at the top, is a shaft 55,

l upon which the reel 56 may be=re\folubly mounted, there being a suitable friction deprovided if desired, for preventing the web from unwinding at a greater speed than itis taken up by the receiving reel.

Supported on the trame base 4 is a vertical l shaft 56, between a pair of nuts 57-57, on which, is mounted a bracket 58, having yoke aiins in which is revolubly mounted a 6l indicates a bracket, loosely mounted on shaft '56, but held in a desired position near the top thereof by means of. nuts 62-1- 625 which bracket is provided at its outer end between a pair ot collars 6er-64; said collars being rigid on shaft 63 but so adusted as to permit free revolution of said shaftL although supported by said yoke arms. @n

the bottom of shaft 63 is rigidly secured a upper face of said plate and loosely mounted on said shaft', is a mating plate 66, of greater diameter than plate 65, and provided 3 with a down turned,.peripheral flange 67,

having gear teeth adapted to'mesh With the teeth of a gear wheel 68, rigidly mounted on shaft 60. Surrounding shaft 63, and bearing against the top or" plate 66 and bottom of a collar 69, rigid on shaft 63, is a connpression spring', adapted for yieldingly retaining plate 66 in trictional engagement with plate 65.

70 indicates a bracket adjustablypmounted on shaft 56 between nuts 7l-7l, and adapted for bracing shaft 63, and 72 is a. beveled gear Wheel rigidly mounted on shaft 63 and meshing with a similarwheel 73, rigidl'on the crank shaft 7 Fitting loosely over the outer end of shaft 60 is the film web receiving reel 74, Which l may be tightened against a collar 75, on said i' shaft, by means of a thumb nut 76.

77 designates the iilin web, which extends between the reels noted, andis operated as I will now describe.

When in use, the upper reel (carrying a is placed on its carrying axle, and the web posited under the upper forwarding drum, with the drum studs in the web side perforations; down through 'the tension trame; in front of roller 4:9, behind roller 47 on the sliding bar 45, and back around roller 49; thence under the lower forvvarding drum and back to the lower reel, to the hub of which it is secured. ln operating the camera, the driving shaft 7 is revolvedjby means of itscrank, and the shutter plate shaft ll revolved through the gearing pre' viously mentioned, which.is adapted-to revolve said plate ata-higli"s'peed. Upon the revolution/"5f the' shutter plate shaft, the

lll)

shaft 17, carrying the pitman wheel 18 is revolved, and the gear wheel 2l on said shaft said plalteua/nd wheel to be revolved "at the r saine speed, while the gearing on the forwarding drum parts is arranged to secure onecomplete revolution of said drums to four revolutions of the shutter plate and pitman wheel. While the machine is in operation therefore, the upper forwarding drum causes a continuous forward feed of the film web from the upper reel to `thetension case in line with the exposure opening, the parts being so positioned as to allow a space in which a portion of the Web may rest before being drawn into said ease. While the web is continuously fed to the case noted, it is withdrawn therefrom intermittently, in order that the film may remain stationary before the exposure opening during the passage of the shutter opening therebefore. While the upper drum 28 is forwarding the web to position over the tension case, the pitman wheel 18 is being revolved, causing a recipro 'ation of the sliding bar 45 in its frame. )rt each forward movement of bar the lower drum 52S takes up the portion of the film web forwarded from the tension case, and at the rearward motion of said bar the roller l? draws the web down from the rase to expose a subsequent film portion, the portion of the web below the sliding bar being held by drum 2S', so that a back feed.

is obviated.

By providing the pitman wheel with the radial slot 19 the rear pitman link may be adjusted to secure a proper operation of the combined parts.

By means of the jointed pitman an actual operation of the sliding bar is had only during about one-quarter of the revolution of the pitman wheel, three 'quarters of the revolution being taken up in breaking and straightening the link joint; and to insure such an operation the pivot pin joining the pitman links is projected through the arcuate lslot in the plate :34, and an even, steady and constant pitman stroke and sliding bar reciprocation secured.

After passing under the drum 28', the film web is wound en the lower reel 74, which is revolved by the friction clutch previously described. the driving shaft of which is actuated by the beveled gear wheels 72 and 73. lith such an arrzmgement the film web may be held in a constantly tant condition without danger of breakage, as shonld the lower reel tend to take up the-web faster than it is fed vthrough the intermittent for 'arder the clutch will slip Vand preventl breakage of the web.

Bymounting the brackets w'hieh support t-he friction clutch shaft, in the manner described, la perfect adjustment of the parts may be hat.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. ln a camera, a web feeding mechanism comprising a sliding bar, a stationary web engaging member at each side of said bar, a web engaging member carried by said bar, a driving link pivotally mounted onjsaid bar, a second link pivoted to said first link, and

means for actuating said second link, for the purpose set forth.

In a camera, a web feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating bar,l a stationary web engaging member at each side of said bar, a web engaging'member carried by saidV bar, a link pivoted on said bar, a second linkl pivoted to said first link, means for-actuatingsaid secondlink, and means for limiting the travel .of said bar.

3. ln a camera, a web feeding mechanism eoi'nprising a reciprocating bar, a' web en-- gaging member at each side of said bar, a web engaging member carried by said, bar, a link pivoted to saidv bar, a second link member and means for actuating same, a slotted plate adjacent to said links, each -of said links being perforated at their adjacent ends, and a pivot pin extending through said perforations and through the slot in said plate, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a camera, a web feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocating bar, a web engaging member at each side of said bar, ai

web engaging member carried by said bar, a link pivoted to said bar, a revoluble shaft, a wheelrigid on said shaft, a link eccentrieally mounted on said wheel and projecting tbward said bar link, a stationary plate having an arcuate slot, and a pivot pin joining the adjacent ends of said links and projecting through said slot, for the purpose setk forth. 5. In a camera, a forwarding mechanism comprising a reciprocating, film engaging member, a driving member, and a jointed pitman connecting said members, said pitman being adjustable on one of said members, for the purpose set forth. i 6. In a camera, a. forwarding mechanis comprising a reciprocating', film engaging member, a driving member, a. jointed pitman connecting said membersand separatel `means for determining the longitudinal and the broken, transyerse travel ofsaid pitman.

7. In a camera, a feeding mechanism'comprisinga reciprocating, Afilm engaging member, a stationary member provided with an arcuate slot, and a pin connected with said comprising a hu le img d member, a

comprising a membe, a n pix/'sied 01E setted drive vih-eel,

Wheel and adm-)te T2079 z'ada adjustmeg't in ami. pvoaly conneeed with said pivoeu link, and means for eenteng @Le tmv'e- 0E" said links, for 'Sie purpose Se'neth.

12T En a Gamen a owardng mechms.

revolving said Whee7 2, pvo pin adjusabl mezme in ejeetng from the Wheel slet, 'nk hav ad mounted on said pin, a 'link Teepreeatng meuoerE sie b and a pin cenueemg sfusi V apef te-f lu- Wed travel. inthe Sie-t m tied membey.

menoeg a driving mechanism, links' piv0tally Cenneeng said fecprocetng membe and said driving mechanism, a soted member adjusably mounted adjacent to saf nks und means prejectng flem Said links and adapied fol t'fzwel in helot in A,said slo'ed memben med en sind gear .YheeL d le out reel, web forwadng iuls and means emmectmg sind Wen iercamera', 'he Combination with a of L revouble shaft cared means for actuating said iam-Carried by shaft, a afi# jeurnaled in said flame 15 ee orwmdng dlums eeom idle-r shuf, sprocket Wheel en, one of said drum shafts und on said idle? shaft and a Chain beit t'zweng over said Wheel, meshing gear whees ou said idler shaft and on the vSeeond drum shaft, in eccentric shaft jour naed in said if'zzme, a gea? Wheel on said eeceurc Shaft meshing with the gear Wheel en Sa idle? sluit7 beveled gear Wheels on Said eccen'e shaft and on the sbatteplete eaha'; in mesh with each @than for the purpose set forth in tesmoriy whereof ax my signature in presence ef ivo Witnesses,

GEORGE TW. CURTSS.

ORN, ARTQUR C. BROWN. 

